Analyst Welcomes Lagos-Ogun Economic Partnership

The Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Proshare Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi, has commended the Governors of Lagos and Ogun States, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Prince Dapo Abiodun, for finally agreeing to set up the Joint Border Area Development Commission for the two states.

The move is to help catalyse economic development and growth of the states through strategic collaboration, coordination and cooperation, as they share favourable geographical, economic and cultural affinity with each other.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between the two governors at the October 2019 edition of the Trade and Investment Breakfast Meeting of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) held in Lagos.

To this end, Awoyemi, in an article on the agreement, titled: “Lagos-Ogun Partnership for Economic Development -The Thoughts on What Is Possible”, said the meeting between the

Governors of Lagos & Ogun States, by all accounts, was long overdue and a fruitful one.

He said: “The trade facilitation goals of contiguous states are better represented by a trade agreement and no formalised one unfortunately, currently exists between the two states. It is therefore a welcome development that such thoughtful consideration has been harmonized through a proposed legal framework with binding agreements or understanding for the setting up of The Joint Border Area Development Commission.

“The planned Joint Border

Area Development Commission, a long overdue intervention; is therefore a good starting point for addressing the issues arising.

“It is envisaged that the deputy governors of the respective states will co-chair this initiative, even as this presents its own challenges given our political and governance history. The governance structure of the commission thus becomes an issue to be reflected upon in the finalisation of its structure and relationship(s) with inter-state agencies, preferably as a clearing house for efficiency